Una was born Anastasia Bolger in 1888 the eldest of 6 children of John Bolger and Johanna Whitty, Coolnaboy, Edermine DED, Co. Wexford. John Bolger died prior to 1901 but Johanna continued to work the family farm with her children John, Elizabeth and Walter. Johanna's unmarried sister Mary K Whitty also lived with them.

In 1908 Una began writing a monthly column for The Echo newspaper in which she focused on womens' rights in the home and in public life. She was a member of Inghinidhe na hEireann and later became local secretary. Inghinidhe na hEireann merged into Cumann nBan in 1914. Una was also sworn into the IRB.

Una (Anastasia) Bolger married Robert Brennan, Irish teacher, journalist and member of the IRB. on July 6 1909 in Enniscorthy(Group Registration 1921837) These are the children of the marriage;Emer born May 21 1910 in Enniscorthy (Group Registration Id 815316) married Svend Yort, Washington D.C. June 1940, died Oct. 26 1986Maeve born Jan. 6 1917, died Nov. 1 1993​Irish Writer, Contributor to The New YorkerDerry (Deirdre Ita) 1918-2010married Gilbert Oliver Jerrold, Washington D.C. c1940Robert Patrick 1927-2002

Una served at the Athenaeum, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford during the 1916 Rising as did her husband Robert. Marion Stokes, Greta Comerford and Una Brennan raised the tricolour over the Athenaeum during the action. Una and her husband Robert were both imprisioned after the Rising. Originally sentenced to death, Robert's sentence was commuted to life imprisionment.

Upon their release from prison, the Brennans moved to Dublin where they continued to be active firstly in the War of Independence and later during the Irish Civil War, on the Anti-Treaty side. Robert became Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs in Dail Eireann 1921-1922. He also helped found the Irish Press newspaper and served as general manager 1930-1934.

In 1934 Robert and Una were sent with the Irish Legation to Washington D.C. where he then served as the Irish Free State's first minister to the United States 1938-1947. They returned to Rathfarnham, Dublin in 1947 where Robert worked as Director of Broadcasting for Radio Eireann 1947-1948.Una died in 1958 (Group Registration ID2093180SR Dublin South) and her husband Robert died in 1964.

Author

I'm a Brennan with clear roots in Clawinch Island, Co. Longford (on the Shannon) Brennan Family Clawinch, Co. Longford and possibly in Kilteevan, Co. Roscommon.Clooncraff Families, Kilteevan, Co. Roscommon 1901As a child my father's people told me that our family came from Kilkenny originally and that Cromwell threw us out. This story has intrigued me all my life and of late I have begun to collect information about Brennans the world over. If you have Brennans in your family, you are cordially invited to join me and maybe we will get to the root of this family story, or maybe not...Martine​Brennan, Kerry, Ireland ~Heads of Households 1901PS It is hoped that information on this website will give you a starting point for your own research. If it has been helpful to you, I would be grateful if you would add any aditional information you have in the comments below so that together we can break down those brick walls.